Texas local film incentives, city by city.
More than 200 Texas communities call themselves film friendly. Five of them actually write checks. Every program below stacks on top of the state incentive's up-to-31%.
SAN ANTONIO
10–14% rebate (SAFI). 10% of metro-area spend, +2% local hire, +2% veterans. Cap $250,000. Minimum $100,000 local spend, 60% of production days local, office and hotel in city limits.
CORPUS CHRISTI
5% supplemental rebate on local spend; cap unpublished, confirm with the film commission.
AUSTIN
2.5% of local wages (Creative Content Incentive). Pays 2.5% of wages to Austin-metro residents, cap $150,000. Union or living wage required. Film permits are free citywide.
PITTSBURG
10% of local spend, cap $20,000, small annual fund; features need a $250k budget and $20k local spend.
HOUSTON
10% rebate (Feature Film Incentive, new Oct 2025). Features over 70 minutes and scripted TV only. Cap $100,000. Minimum $500,000 Houston-area spend.
Worth a phone call
Fort Worth negotiates custom packages per project (no published rate). Dallas's hotel rebate was last documented in 2022 — verify before budgeting.
El Paso has no adopted program yet — a 5–10% rebate has been proposed but not passed.
Film Friendly Texas certification (200+ communities) means trained staff and smooth permits, not money — and statewide, every production also gets sales-tax exemptions on qualifying purchases and rentals plus the hotel tax refund on 30+ night stays.
Verified August 2026 against official program documents. Programs change with city budgets — confirm with the administering office before you file.
Worth a phone call
Fort Worth negotiates custom packages per project (no published rate). Dallas's hotel rebate was last documented in 2022 — verify before budgeting.
El Paso has no adopted program yet — a 5–10% rebate has been proposed but not passed.
Film Friendly Texas certification (200+ communities) means trained staff and smooth permits, not money — and statewide, every production also gets sales-tax exemptions on qualifying purchases and rentals plus the hotel tax refund on 30+ night stays.
Verified August 2026 against official program documents. Programs change with city budgets — confirm with the administering office before you file.